Project- Biomes of the Future

Roles
1.  Botanist (Plant Expert)
2.  Zoologist (Animal Expert)
3.  Climatologist (Climate Expert)
4.  Research Scientist (Head Researcher)

Tasks

PROJECT RUBRIC

A. Research your favorite world biome and record your information on a Biome Fact Sheet in Google Docs.  

• Click here to access the folder.
  
• Choose your biome and edit the Google Doc (Biome Fact Sheet) with your information.
  
• Be sure to add photos (text wrap the images) from Wikimedia Commons to your Fact Sheet (enter the organism name in the search bar) 

B. Research Climate Change, take a Climate Change Expedition.  Fill out a new research worksheet for each source you use.

• Fill-in a Research Worksheet with information from the EPA Student's Climate Change website and the NASA Climate Change site.  Research the following topics:  
  

     1.  today's climate change
     2.  historical climate change
     3.  effects on humans and the environment

• Go on the Climate Change Expedition:  Click on the 3 closest flags to your biome.  Print out your Passport and turn in.
  
• Complete the Climate Change interactive to help you with your graph.
  
• (REMEMBER to write down your references)
  
  

EPA: A Student’s Guide to Climate Change
NASA Climate Change Site
Research Worksheet
Climate Change Interactive
Effects on Plants, Animals, and Ecosystems


C. Research plant and animal adaptations for your chosen biome.  Fill out a new research worksheet for each source you use.

• Fill in at least 1 Research Worksheet for plant adaptations
• Find at least 3 adaptations and answer the following questions:

      A.  What is the adaptation?
      B.  How does it help the plant in its environment? 

• 1 Research Worksheet for Animal Adaptations 
• Find at least 3 adaptations:

      A.  What is the adaptation?
      B. How does it help the animal in its environment? 

The following resources will help you with your adaptation research:
Earth Science Explorer
Biology of Plants
Plant and Animal Adaptations PDF
Live Science
Marine Animal Adaptations
Interactives


D. Design your future biome 

• Using the information you have learned from the climate change and organism adaptations and applying it to your biome, design a model to display environmental changes and animal and plant adaptations for your biome.  You will need to use your knowledge and imagination to complete this task.  Include at least 1 plant and 1 animal that has uniquely adapted to this biome in your design.
  

• Consider the following questions when designing your future biome:
   A. What will the new temperature range be?
  

      B. How will the temperatures affects plants and animals?
      C. Will common animals adapt or will they go extinct leaving an open niche for another species to fill?
      D. How will rainfall change?

• Click here to access the Biome Key Facts Sheet for your new biome.
  
• Choose ONE of the following:
  A. Create a presentation board and make a 3D model of at least one plant and one animal from your future biome

      B. Create a 3D model of your future biome

Sample Project Board